Wouldn’t it look pretty if a mug rug coaster was shaped like a maple leaf? When that idea popped into my head, I searched the internet for a pattern and could not find one. So I told myself “Lara, Step Away From the Computer”, went for a walk outside in the sunshine, got a real maple leaf and made up my own pattern. I found some fabrics that would hide stains and wash up well and then made up a few maple leaf mug rugs for our family room. My DH even said he loves them!

So I am now posting this for anyone else who would also like to make them. Seems like an Autumn-y thing to do. If any of you do make one, I would LOVE to see your pictures and see how they come out in different fabrics.

Please bear with me while I post the directions and pictures, as I’m going to post them one step at a time to keep them in the right order.

4. Set your sewing machine for a very small straight stitch. Sew around the outside edge of the leaf pattern, starting and stopping at the arrows on the pattern. Reinforce the first and last corners with backstitching along the way.

6. Flip the leaf over. Pull off the paper around the Outside of the leaf. Leave on the paper within the leaf pattern. Keeping it in place will help you to see the stitching line as you trim the fabric, especially if your thread matches your fabric.

7. Cut away the excess fabric, leaving a 1/8 inch seam allowance. Please note: where the v- shaped opening is left, leave a 1/4" seam allowance and snip into the tip of the "V" as illustrated in the picture below. This helps when it comes time to turn that edge under.